Handle construction for sliding blade knives



March 5, 1963 E. B. CHRISTY K 3,079,686

HANDLE CONSTRUCTION'FOR SLIDING BLADE KNIVES Filed Dec. 22, 1961 3 1.9 4

MyW/Zava dgl@ United States Patent Otlice Eh Patented Mar. 5, i9533,679,636 HANDLE CGNSTRUCTN FR SLENG BLADE KNIVES Earl B. Christy, 995Dickinson Si., Fremont, Ohio Filed Bee. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,512 1Claim. (Cl. :itl-162) This invention relates to improvements inso-called penknives, more particularly, to a knife of that characterwherein the blade is slidably received by and is extendable from orretractible into its handle, Le., a knife of the type disclosed in theUnited States Letters Patent issued to Russ I. Christy, numbered2,074,640.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a knife of the above statedtype whose handle is constructed of plastic or kindred moldablematerial, being rigid and sturdy and internally free of jointure seamsor other protuberances which might tend to or would interfere with, ifnot prevent, free and smooth sliding of its blade from or into the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knife handle which is ofsubstantially one piece construction having one side so formed as toafford a continuous or unbroken solid surface area (plane or otherwise)on which certain decoration, design or intelligence (advertising matter,etc.) may be economically and satisfactorily imprinted, inscribed orotherwise eEected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knife handle capableof being produced and surface treated, as above, prior to the assemblyof its blade and operational adjuncts therein, hence, yieldingbeneficial and material production advantages and economies,particularly to the end that manufacturing loss by parts rejection willbe reduced greatly in that such rejections will be of parts only, incontra distinction to rejection of an entire knife.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a knife handle, themajor portion of which is of one piece form, but has one end open tofacilitate eiiicient and rapid assembly of blade and companionatecomponents therein, then being finished or end closed by a capping whoseconstruction and design ensures positive, tight and interlockingconnection between the two parts.

An equally important object of the invention resides in the provision ofa knife handle wherein the end capping or mating bail end thereof, inaddition to closing its open end, post parts assembly, may be furnishedwith or carry an accessory device or tool of various kinds or types,such, for example, as a letter opener, a bottle or can opener, a screwdriver, etc., hence, materially increasing its utility and its value asan article of manufacture.

I'he foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritoriousteachings of my invention will be in part obvious and in part pointedout in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that theforms of the invention presented herein are precise and what are nowconsidered to be the best mode of embodying its principles, but thatother modifications and changes may be made in specific embodimentswithout departing from its essential features.

ln the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of my improved sliding blade knife showingits blade extended from the handle thereof, and said blade, in dottedlines, in retracted position.

FlGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation `of the knife wherein the bladeis shown in retracted position within the handle and the blade cuttingedge in an upwardly disposed position.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal elevational edge view of the knife.

FEGURE 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of FGURE 2,looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5' of FIGURE 2,looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

FGURE 6 is an enlarged detail inside elevation of the blade attachablebutton plate illustrating the movable mounting of the button and thedetent or locking pin carried thereby, plus the spring lor normallyurging and retaining said detent in an operative extended position.

FGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a modified form ofend closure or cap for the knife handle, usable as a bail to permit thejoining of a chain or other and similar device t ereto.

FlGURE 8 is an edge View thereof.

FlGURE 9 is another modified form of end closure or cap for the knifehandle whereby an accessory tool, such as an envelope opener, screwdriver, tile, etc., may be ciedly joined thereto and carried thereby,and

FIGURE l0 is an edge view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawings, particularly, to the form ofinvention shown in the FIGURES l through 6, the invention, generallystated, comprises a handle indicated in its entirety by the numeral land a knife or cutting blade 2 slideably and wholly or partiallycontainable 'therein or entendible therefrom. To effect sliding of the-blade into or from the handle, a button carrying plate 3, iereinaftermore fully described, is connected to the inner end portion of saidblade and slideably received by the handle in a manner to be accessibleor engageable rom without the same.

The handle l consists of an elongated substantially rectangularly shapedbody, preferably made of or molded from la suitable plastic material,though, of course, being constructable from other types of material,including metal. Said body is channeled, i.e., formed with alongitudinally disposed and shouldered way 4 opening onto andsubstantially throughout the length of one side thereof, as shown inFiGURES 1 and 2, whose opposite ends open onto the opposite ends of thehandle 1 (see FIG- URES 2 and 3). One of such open ends of the way,indicated at 5, permits the sliding extension or retraction of the bladefrom or into the handle.

The remaining open end of the channel or way in the handle is closed bya cap piece 6 also made of plastic, metal or other suitable material,preferably like that of the handle. As shown in the drawings, itconsists of a one piece arcuate body having fingers 6 integral with andeX- tended longitudinally from its opposite ends, the outside width ofthe cap corresponding to that of the handle.

To effect secure connection between the above referred -to handle endand the cap, said end is tapered or reduced, `as at 7, and formed orotherwise provided on its edges with acutely shouldered and relativelyspaced bosses or teeth 8 snugly receivable in correspondingly formed andpositioned seats or notches 9 in the matchingly formed or shaped innerend of said cap. Thus, to close the tapered end of 'the handle and theadjacent end of its way 4, the cap piece 6, having inherent elasticity,is moved onto said end whereupon the finger 6 will be flexedsufficiently to permit their sliding over the same and inter engagementwith or interlocking of the now juxtaposed teeth S and seats 9, hence,eilecting a self-clamping interconnection. if desired, positive, tightand permanent interlocking between the 'two parts (the tapered handleend and the cap) can be assured by preapplication of a proper adhesiveto the mating parts.

It is to be, and of course, will be understood that prior to the cappingclosure of the 'aforesaid end of the bundle l, the cutting blade Z andthe button carrying plate 3 are assembled' and slidingly introduced intothe handle and its4 longitudinally disposed way 4.

The cutting blade 3 comprises the usual edged and pointed body portionand a tang 1t) of greater width. To effect positive guiding of the bladeduring its sliding in and from the handle`(extension or retraction) theopposite longitudinal sides of the handle are each formed with inwardlyfacing and opposed grooves or ways 11 contiguous with the channel 4. Thewidth ofthe tang is such that its longitudinal side portions areslideably received in the grooves or Ways, while the width of the bladecauses its back edge to be likewise received in the adjacent one (seeFIGURE 2) and in longitudinal alignment with the end way opening for anobvious purpose. l

In order that the cutting blade 2 may be slidwithin the handle 1 toeither extended or retracted, or partially extendedor retracted,positions, the button carrying plate 3 riveted or otherwise permanentlyconnectedto the tank 10, as at I2. Its width is such that it is snuglythough slideably received between the Vopposite sides of the Way 4within the handle. An elongated or ovate opening 13 is formed in oneportion of the plate and receives therethrough -a reduced shank 14carried by and extended from a finger engageable button 15 of sizegreater than said opening. A detent or locking pin '16, carried by thereduced shank, is ,slideably received through an appropriate opening inthe plate and is normally retained extended therefrom beyond theadjacent plate side by means of a spring 17 seated, as at 18, in theinner side of said plateand bea-ring on the shank 14, all as shown inFIG- URES 5 and 6 of 'the drawings.

Relatively longitudinally spaced inwardly opening pockets 19 are formedin that side Wall of the channel 4 adjacent the normally extended detent16 and are adapted to receive thesame therein. Thereby, the cuttingblade 2 Ican be selectively retained in various adjusted positions withrelation to the handle 1, either fully or partially extended therefromor retracted thereinto. Y

lIn FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of cappiece 6a. Therein, Ithe body por- "tionY of the piece isY elongated, asat 19, and has an open,- ing 20 therethrough,'thus constituting a bailwhereby a chain or similar device may be connected to the knife handle.Another modied form ofthe cap piece is illustrated by the FIGURES 9 andYl0. Therein, the cap piece 6b is formed with a longitudinally disposedextension o1' shank portion 21, preferably having an outwardly openingsocket therein. Various forms or kinds of accessories, Such for exampleas a paper cutting or envelope opening blade 22, or a screw driver,file, etc., can be engaged in the extension socket and thus, iix'edlyconnected to the knife.

A pen or pocket knife and/or handle constructed according to myinvention aifords material adv-antageous results and beneiits, certainof which are identilied as follows:

(a) Work to be performed on the solid back of the handle, such as hotstamping or silk screening of intelligence and ornamentation, may beperformed prior to assembly of the cutting blade and its associatedcomponents. Faulty or imperfect parts may be pre-assembly rejectedrather than the rejection of an entire knife assembly.

i After said work has been performed on the back of the handle,`assembly of partsl can be eiected with but little chance of spoilagethereof.`

(b) The button plate and cutting blade assembly can be accomplished withcertainty that it will function properly, whereupon the assembly can beendwise inserted into the handle channel or blade track. Then the endpiece Vor cap 6 can be attached without chancing improper functioning ofthe slidable cutting blade and the button plate assembly, 'such forexample as binding caused by too tight ilt or installation, or becausesurplus adhesive shouldl elect malfuuctioning of the button plate-assembly. Y I

(c) The handle proper can be molded in one piecevfor greater rigidity ascomparedwith the production of Aa khand-le in longitudinally dividedsections which are retained in assembled relation by adhesivey or gluedjoints. (d) The handle proper by being molded in one `piece with the endpositioned cap 6 engaged withy and secured thereto results lin but. asmall seam at the rear end ofzsaid handle, whereas a sectional handleassembly, as described in Ithe above sub-jgtarag'raph- (c), extends orruns along its longitudinal axis for the ful-l lengthrthereof. kThelatter form of jointure detracts from the appearance of the knife.Qftentimes, it isfaulty to the extent of being insecure. Furthermore,the internal presence of excessive and hardened adhesive results infaulty sliding of the cutting blade in the handle. I claim: l A knifehandle, comprising: Y A (a) a body, one side of hich is flat andcontinuous andthe other formed with an outwardly opening continuouschannel vsubstantially throughout its length opening onto the oppositeends 'of said body. (b)r the opposite marginal sides of the bodyeachhaving inwardly opening blade edge receiving tracks in and extendingthroughout the lengths thereof opening into said channel, f Y I (c) oneend ofv the body having outwardly tapered marginal sides land formed toconstitute one portion of a scarfjoint, Y (d) a capping device ofVcross-sectional shape substanjtially correspondingto the cross-sectionalshapel of said body having an inwardly opening pocket therein of shapeand size conforming to that of saidbody one end for receiving the sametherein and formed to, constitute a second scarf joint portioncompanionate to that on said body end, and (e)V interlockinglyengageable means on adjacent and contacting portions of said one endofthe body and the capping device whereby to interconnectthe same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

